Vortrag der Goethe Gesellschaft: Goethe als Vordenker der Klimakatastrophe

Dr. Manfred Osten, Bonn: Goethe as a mastermind of the climate catastrophe

In his lecture, Dr. Manfred Osten will use the Faust tragedy (Faust II) to show how Goethe foresaw the worldwide consumption of resources and the exploitation of the earth in connection with fossil energy 200 years ago. The fatal outcome will be discussed: the revenge campaigns of the elements that Mephisto prophesied in Goethe's work and which have since become reality. Dr. Osten, who has explored the topic in greater depth in his latest work "Goethe's Prophecy of the World as a 'Great Hospital'" (afterword by Peter Sloterdijk), will explain the error of the planetary destruction of the bio- and atmosphere, which Goethe as a naturalist recognized particularly vividly, and will also discuss Goethe's proposals for healing this crisis.

The Goethe Society Erfurt regularly organizes scientific, instructive lectures, discussions on individual works by Goethe and educational trips to places where Goethe and other poets worked. If interested, it offers secondary school pupils and students from the region the opportunity to present their own work on the subject of Goethe for discussion. The society also invites authors to give readings. It closely follows the activities of the parent society in Weimar and maintains contacts with other local Goethe societies in Germany - in particular the Goethe Society in Gera - as well as with cultural associations in Erfurt. The Goethe Society Erfurt pursues the promotion of cultural purposes. Newly founded in 2014, it has set itself the task of cultivating and communicating Goethe's ideas, works and personality in accordance with the aims of the Goethe Society in Weimar. It does not represent any political or religious aims.

Further information about the Goethe Society can be found here.